Miami=South Beach Art Deco District

[Roark]

yes, it does not suit my preference, and probably the majority of people as seen in the link posted above. you may like the design, but do you prefer this design to the original that the city rejected? I've never become attached to renderings...ever. 99% of the time they change. I barely even remember the original drawings.
The link that you posted certainly doesn't influence the way I think. IF every single one of the people posting there didn't like the end product, THEN it still isn't destroyed.
as far as delayed, i never said construction was unacceptably delayed. the approval process was though, it took yearsYou said specifically, "imo the overbearing boards of mb destroyed this project"
There is much more to that. Much more than anyone posted on the other message board that you mentioned. The development agreement required that there be a supermarket component. Some of the posters on that other site seem to think that a Gucci store would love to be located above a supermarket. That is not the case.
Further, much of the efforts on this project coincided with the importance of the Baylink vote; the City of Miami Beach was working diligently to secure Federal and State money to ensure that Baylink would come through the building to provide park and ride options for MB residents that wish to take mass transit to downtown.
You may say that extra effort destroyed the project. I say that the City of Miami Beach did commendable work and support the original point that Alton and 5th Street is an example of the great job the City of Miami Beach does when they enter into public/private partnerships.

[Södermalm]

from the miami herald 8.8.09

Best Buy's grand opening in Miami Beach comes almost eight years after developer Jeff Berkowitz first conceived the vertical big box shopping center Fifth & Alton.

If it weren't for a series of hurdles Berkowitz had to overcome, the project likely would have opened up during a booming economy. But the development encountered numerous delays caused by everything from on-site environmental remediation to historic preservation and three redos on the design.

When Berkowitz solved these problems with the city, he found himself in the midst of the housing boom that had more than doubled the original estimates of construction costs. At those prices the deal didn't make sense, forcing Berkowitz to renegotiate all the leases. Along the way, Bed Bath & Beyond and Sports Authority dropped out as tenants.

[Roark]

from the miami herald 8.8.09
Nothing in the article specifically mentions the work with the City in regards to the transportation funding, but afterall, it's the Herald reporting that I've become accustomed. They used the catch all, "encountered numerous delays caused by everything from on-site environmental remediation to historic preservation and three redos on the design."
Not surprisingly, no one quoted in the article said "overbearing boards of mb destroyed this project". On the contrary, it has been greeted as a successful project. 93% occupied at the opening is a Godsend for this retail environment.

The strength of some of the tenants is obvious. Discount retailers T.J. Maxx and Ross Dress for Less both this week reported sales gains in July, a rarity for retailers in this environment. Source... (http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/1176949.html?storylink=pd)

[Södermalm]

you are just going to have to accept that these boards are not infallible, the members themselves are probably privately admitting that they screwed up just like they did at bentley bay down the block

[Roark]

you are just going to have to accept that these boards are not infallibleHuh?
I've accepted that over a decade and half ago, but what does that have to do with the point that you posted.
the overbearing boards of mb destroyed this project

#1 The project is not destroyed.
#2 The City of Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board did what they are supposed to do. The Design Review Board did what they are supposed to do. And the environmental protection agency did what they are supposed to do.

Just stick to "the design doesn't suit my personal preference" rather than blame people that don't deserve the grief.

[Södermalm]

Just stick to "the design doesn't suit my personal preference" rather than blame people that don't deserve the grief.

and yet another forum with the unanimous sentiment that this building sucks:

http://www.yelp.com/topic/miami-dade-what-is-going-to-be-in-the-new-building-at-5th-and-alton

[Roark]

and yet another forum with the unanimous sentiment that this building sucks:
http://www.yelp.com/topic/miami-dade-what-is-going-to-be-in-the-new-building-at-5th-and-alton
Are you referring to the sentiment from the poster known as George "thunderlips" M. ?

Look up the word unanimous in the dictionary, then go back and read your forum.

[1772]

Well, one has to say that 5th & Alton would be cooler if it had the edgier design and a mix os middle and high end stores.

[Södermalm]

what i think is cool is the last comment that claims the big publix on south beach is doing $1.000.000 per week and the small one a few blocks away $700.000

not surprising, but it is cool that just these 2 supermarket locations are approaching $100 million per year

[Roark]

Well, one has to say that 5th & Alton would be cooler if it had the edgier design and a mix os middle and high end stores. Design is in the eye of the beholder, but what is missed on so many blogs and missed by so many commentators is that this project is a public private partnership with a development agreement specifying a grocery store must be located on the ground floor.
While some commentators on these blogs that keep getting linked here whine for higher end retail like Gucci etc. The reality of life and development show us that Gucci stores rarely, if ever, locate themselves above supermarkets.

In my opinion, it is a coup to get the retailers that Berkowitz/CMB signed on at such high prices per square foot.

[1772]

Design is in the eye of the beholder, but what is missed on so many blogs and missed by so many commentators is that this project is a public private partnership with a development agreement specifying a grocery store must be located on the ground floor.
While some commentators on these blogs that keep getting linked here whine for higher end retail like Gucci etc. The reality of life and development show us that Gucci stores rarely, if ever, locate themselves above supermarkets.

In my opinion, it is a coup to get the retailers that Berkowitz/CMB signed on at such high prices per square foot.

Not really sure if that always is the case. In Marbella, Spain, there is a great departement store called "El Corte Ingles", which has a grocery store on the ground floor and a bunch of clothing stores of a variety of prices on the other floors.
And they seem to be doing quite alright.

Well, well. I suppose things can change.

[noland123]

Design is in the eye of the beholder, but what is missed on so many blogs and missed by so many commentators is that this project is a public private partnership with a development agreement specifying a grocery store must be located on the ground floor.
While some commentators on these blogs that keep getting linked here whine for higher end retail like Gucci etc. The reality of life and development show us that Gucci stores rarely, if ever, locate themselves above supermarkets.

In my opinion, it is a coup to get the retailers that Berkowitz/CMB signed on at such high prices per square foot.



Gucci located on top of a supermarket that would be like putting caviar on top of buck wheat.

[Roark]

Gucci located on top of a supermarket that would be like putting caviar on top of buck wheat.
Ah yes, but you would have to say that caviar on top of buckwheat would be nice.
There is one example of this in the universe...A Cavier purveyor in Tibuktu put beluga on top of buckwheat.

Well well. I suppose things can change.

[Södermalm]

Gucci located on top of a supermarket that would be like putting caviar on top of buck wheat.


actually, in addition to the marbella example, there are very many examples of high end department stores above grocery stores across europe

plenty of retailers are happy to be with publix at mary brickell

you might not need ultra-luxury retailers, but ross and tjmaxx are pretty much as trashy as it gets for big box

[Roark]

actually, in addition to the marbella example, there are very many examples of high end department stores above grocery stores across europe
plenty of retailers are happy to be with publix at mary brickell
you might not need ultra-luxury retailers, but ross and tjmaxx are pretty much as trashy as it gets for big box
Clearly, you have missed the point.
And your comparisons are well off target.

My post addressed very directly the links you posted about people asking for Gucci stores above Publix at 5th & Alton. Very specifically, those people. I didn't say that there are no retailers of any kind above grocery stores anywhere in the world. You really have to be joking.

You are really too much for me to have a dialogue, but don't let that or the Gulf Stream take the wind out of your sails, by all means keep posting and posting and posting and posting.

[Exploratus]

Herzog & DeMeuron Building Almost Complete in Lincoln Road

http://www.urbancityarch.com/2009/10/herzog-near-completion/

[Aceventura]

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/091015/story1.shtml

By Scott E. Pacheco
Miami Beach within days should get funding go-ahead to master plan a six-year upgrade of its outmoded convention center, with work due to end July 31, 2015.
The city formally agreed late last week to release the funds, which OKs it for county reimbursement of $600,000 to hire Arquitectonica to craft the master plan. Another $400,000 is due for pre-design after county approval, said Jose A. Galan, Miami-Dade's chief of program legislation.
All the funds are from $55 million that county voters approved five years ago to revamp the center, last updated in 1989. Industry players for years have lamented outdated amenities and lack of a ballroom. When the center opened in the 1950s it was the nation's fourth-largest; today it's 28th.
Max Sklar, city director of tourism and cultural development, said once the county seals the deal, the city will have to "execute our agreement with Arquitectonica." Both sides have already approved terms.
"There's a six-month timeline for the master planning process," he said, meaning it should wrap up by early June 2010.
Miami Beach must OK the master plan, then submit it to the county to get design funds, Mr. Sklar said.
A timeline from the county shows the two-year design phase is to end June 30, 2012, and cost $4,992,607. Construction, to begin Jan. 1, 2011, is to cost $49,007,393.
A convention center study recommends expanding exhibit space, adding a ballroom and 25,000 square feet of added meeting space, an iconic alternative outdoor rooftop venue, and another convention center hotel in the Beach.
Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Chairman Aaron Perry said previously that the center's deters some major meetings: "We lose business every day to our city because of inadequate ballroom and convention center space."

[QuantumX]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/4035104553_30c710342a_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/4035104553_30c710342a_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/4035104557_9433ba8999_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/4035104557_9433ba8999_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/4035104563_6afedcfbd6_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/4035104563_6afedcfbd6_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2551/4035104567_865f8340e8_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2551/4035104567_865f8340e8_b.jpg

[SkyDiveJunkee]

This is a masterpiece in the making -- functional, contextual, artful...pretty much everything one could hope for.

[Södermalm]

This is a masterpiece in the making -- functional, contextual, artful...pretty much everything one could hope for.

and on top of that the developer is prettying up the surrounding blocks by installing the cool soapstone sidewalks and landscaping

[SkyDiveJunkee]

The use of cypress trees on the mall extension is a nice touch.

1111, with the Cinema, are going to be great bookends.

[Södermalm]

The use of cypress trees on the mall extension is a nice touch.

1111, with the Cinema, are going to be great bookends.


i believe they put in japanese blueberries there

also cool lighting going in on the water features